JP4273632B2 - Image processing device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image processing technique for forming a translucent back in a partial area of a print image.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a photo processing apparatus that prints text information such as a shooting date on a partial area of a photo is known. When characters or the like are printed on a photographic image, it becomes difficult to recognize the characters. Conventionally, R, G, and B pixel data constituting the photographic image are converted into color data (C) and pixel data for each pixel. After changing to luminance data (Y) and further reducing the luminance data corresponding to the pixels in the region where the character is superimposed (decreasing the density when viewed from the photosensitive material), the changed luminance data and the color data Then, image processing is performed to form a so-called translucent back in which reverse conversion is performed to return the pixel data to R, G, and B, and the density of the overlapping region is reduced with the returned pixel data of each color. Then, by printing characters in this semi-transparent back area, readability of the printed characters is ensured.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In a conventional apparatus, a data processing circuit that converts R, G, and B pixel data into color data and luminance data, and the changed luminance data and the color data are reversed to R, G, and B pixel data. Since a data processing circuit for conversion is required, the apparatus becomes complicated and expensive. In addition, since the processing time required for the conversion and the inverse conversion becomes long, the speeding up of the image processing is also hindered.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus capable of realizing rapid image processing with a simple configuration.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention described in claim 1 is an image processing apparatus that prints a second image by superimposing a second image on a partial area of the first image that is a color image composed of a plurality of colors. In order to change the luminance level at the time of pixel printing in a direction that gives a difference from the second image at a predetermined change rate, the level after the change can be associated with the level of the input pixel data and output is possible. Level changing means for storing, image processing means for changing the level of only the pixel data included in the partial area of the first image via the level changing means, and each pixel processed by the image processing means a first printing portion for performing receiving and printing out data, receives pixel data constituting the second image and a second printing unit for printing an output, said image processing means, said first image Of the R, G, and B image data, a color designation information storage unit that stores color designation information that designates image data of a color that changes a luminance level, and area designation information that designates the partial area are stored. An area designation information storage section; and a change rate designation information storage section for storing change rate designation information for designating the change rate of the luminance level, wherein the level changing means includes the color designation information, the area designation information, The luminance level of the designated color image data in the partial area is changed at the change rate based on the change rate specifying information .
[0006]
According to this configuration, the image processing means includes a color designation information storage unit, a previous area designation information storage unit, and a change rate designation information storage unit, and the color designation information storage unit includes the first color designation information storage unit. Stores color designation information for designating image data of a color that changes the luminance level of the R, G, and B image data of the image, and the area designation information storage unit designates the partial area. The information is stored, and the change rate designation information storage unit stores change rate designation information for designating the change rate of the luminance level. When overlapping the second image printed on a portion of the first image is a color image composed of a plurality of colors, the luminance level at the time of printing of each pixel constituting the first image and the second After changing the level of the input pixel data so as to change at a predetermined change rate designated by the change rate designation information stored in the change rate designation information storage unit in a direction to give a difference from the image of levels associated of Ru stored in the output enable that the level changing means. Then, only the pixel data included in the partial area designated by the area designation information stored in the area designation information storage unit in the first image, and the R, G, and B images of the first image only the color image data of varying the luminance level specified by the color specifying information stored in the out color designating information storage section of the data level changes by way of the level changing means is performed by the image processing means. Then, each pixel data processed by the image processing means is received and print output is performed by the first print unit, and pixel data constituting the second image is received and print output is performed by the second print unit. When generating a translucent back, conversion and reverse conversion as in the above-described conventional example are not required, and the apparatus configuration is simplified and the processing time of the image is shortened.
[0007]
Further, the level changing means changes the luminance level of the input pixel data at a predetermined change rate specified by the change rate specifying information stored in the change rate specifying information storage unit. Set arbitrarily.
[0008]
If the level changing means is a table memory as in the second aspect of the invention, the apparatus configuration is further simplified and the processing time of the image is further shortened.
[0009]
If the table memory is an SRAM as in the third aspect of the invention, the apparatus configuration is further simplified and the image processing time is further shortened.
[0010]
As in the invention described in claim 4, the second image if it is an image consisting of character data, the character data translucent back is written.
[0011]
As in the fifth aspect of the invention, if it is the character data is captured date, recording date translucent back is written.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a photographic processing apparatus to which an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. In this figure, a photographic processing apparatus includes a scanner 10 that captures a color image of each frame of a photographed film (negative film or positive film) F for each color of B, G, and R, and a color captured by the scanner 10. The image information capturing unit 20 to be captured as each pixel data (first image) constituting the image, and the color light corresponding to the image data for each color of the image information capturing unit 20 is converted into the reel R by each color light. An exposure unit 30 that feeds and exposes the rolled photographic paper P, a development processing unit 40 that develops the photographic paper P exposed by the exposure unit 30, and a developed photographic paper (photosensitive material) P for each predetermined unit. And a system controller 60 for controlling the operation of the entire system. The system controller 60 is connected to an input unit 70 including a keyboard and a mouse for performing various operations by the user and an output unit 80 including a CRT monitor.
[0013]
The scanner 10 receives a light image transmitted through the film F by illuminating the film F with uniform luminance from the upper surface, and a film transport unit 11 that sequentially transports each frame of the developed long negative film F to the exposure position. And an imaging unit 14.
[0014]
The film transport unit 11 includes a take-up roller 111, a drive motor 112 that rotationally drives the take-up roller 111, and a film transport control unit 113 that controls the drive of the drive motor 112. Based on this control signal, the drive motor 112 is rotated, and the film F is intermittently transferred to the exposure position by the frame size by the take-up roller 111.
[0015]
The imaging unit 14 includes a lamp 141 disposed on the top of the film F, a lamp control unit 142 that controls the amount of light emitted from the lamp 141, and a photoelectric conversion element array that is disposed at opposed positions sandwiching the lamp 141 and the film F. Film F that has been provided with imaging means 143 (for example, a line sensor or area sensor comprising a CCD element) and an imaging control section 144 that controls the operation of imaging means 143 and has been transported by film transport section 11 Are taken one frame at a time.
[0016]
The image information capturing unit 20 captures the color image captured by the image capturing unit 14 as pixel data constituting each color of B, G, and R, and stores the image data for the three colors B, G, and R The image data storage unit 21 having an image memory and the B, G, R image data for one line of the image to be exposed by the exposure unit 30 are read from the image data storage unit 21 and temporarily stored for each B, G, R. Line buffers 22, 23, and 24 for storing are provided. The image information fetching unit 20 converts an image such as a shooting date, a photographer's name, a shooting location, and an explanation for each frame read from the film F by a magnetic recording unit (not shown) provided in the scanner 10 into character data (first data). It is also possible to capture it as a second image).
[0017]
The exposure unit 30 exposes the photographic paper P by converting the B, G, and R image data read from the line buffers 22, 23, and 24 into corresponding color light and outputting the converted color light on the photographic paper P. The head unit 31, the photographic paper transport unit 32 that transports the photographic paper P to the position where the exposure head unit 31 is disposed, the exposure head control unit 33 that controls the driving of the exposure head unit 31, and the line buffers 22 and 23. , 24 based on the B, G, and R image data sent out, a photographic paper transport control unit 324 described later of the photographic paper transport unit 32, a superimpose circuit (image processing means) 331 described later, and a brightness level change table. (Level changing means) 332, selector (first and second printing units) 333, controller 334, CPU 335, image data output control circuit 337 and color filter control circuit 33 And a exposure control unit 34 synchronously controls.
[0018]
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the exposure head unit 31 in detail. As shown in the figure, the head portion 311 of the exposure head portion 31 is a shutter composed of a PLZT element that is an exposure head disposed along the width direction of the photographic paper P (direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction indicated by the arrow). An array 311a, a white light source 311b composed of a halogen lamp for supplying colored light to the shutter array 311a, and a shutter array 311a and a white light source 311b are arranged between the B, G, and R 3 along the circumferential direction. Disc-shaped color filter 311c divided into color areas, a mirror tunnel 311d that guides the light from white light source 311b to color filter 311c, and the light from white light source 311b transmitted through color filter 311c were decomposed. An optical fiber bundle 311e for sending a plurality of color lights to the shutter array 311a.
[0019]
The color filter 311c is rotated at a constant speed along the circumferential direction by the drive motor 331a. That is, the color filter control circuit 337 receives the identification signal sent from the exposure control unit 34 and controls the rotation of the drive motor 331a, so that each color area of the color filter 311c and each image data of B, G, R are obtained. The rotational drive of the color filter 311c is controlled so as to correspond. The white light source 311b and the color filter 311c constitute a light source that supplies a plurality of color lights to the shutter array 311a.
[0020]
The photographic paper transport unit 32 includes a first transport roller pair 321 and a second transport roller pair 322, and first and second transport roller pairs 321 and 322 disposed on the upstream side and the downstream side of the exposure head unit 31. A drive motor 323 that rotates and a photographic paper transport control unit 324 that controls the drive of the drive motor 323 are provided. The drive motor 323 is rotated based on a control signal of the photographic paper transport control unit 324, and the line buffer 22, The photographic printing paper P is conveyed downstream by one pitch corresponding to the exposure time of the B, G, and R image data for one line read from 23 and 24.
[0021]
The exposure control unit 34 reads the B, G, and R image data sent from the line buffers 22, 23, and 24, and the photographic paper transport control unit 324 of the photographic paper transport unit 32 and the exposure head control unit 33. The superimposing circuit 331, the brightness level change table 332, the selector 333, the controller 334, the CPU 335, the image data output control circuit 337, and the color filter control circuit 336 are controlled so that an image such as a pattern is accurately exposed on the photographic paper P. It is to make it.
[0022]
FIG. 3 shows a detailed configuration of the exposure head controller 33. As shown in the figure, the superimpose circuit 331 superimposes image data, and designates color image data that changes the luminance level of B, G, and R image data. A color designation information storage unit 311a for storing information, a region designation information storage unit 311b for storing region designation information for designating a region (partial region) for changing the luminance level, and a change rate for designating a change rate of the luminance level A change rate designation information storage unit 311c that stores designation information and a character data storage unit 311d that stores character data are provided. The information input from the input unit 70 by the user may be stored in advance in the storage units 311a to 311d, or may be input each time. However, the character data may be captured from the scanner 10 as described above.
[0023]
The brightness level change tables 332B, G, and R are table memories configured by, for example, SRAM (Static Random Access Memory), and change the brightness level of a part of the image data of the color based on the color designation information. is there. Here, luminance refers to the brightness per unit area perpendicular to the observation direction of the object when viewed from a certain direction. The surface area of the object is A, the luminous intensity in the observation direction is I, and the object surface is set. If the angle between the normal and the observation direction is θ, the luminance B is given by the following equation.
B = (1 / cos θ) · (dI / dA)
[0024]
In the SRAM, the ratio between the input value and the output value can be changed by controlling the read / write timing and the address, for example, by the control signal from the superimpose circuit 331. Therefore, the luminance level can be changed at this ratio. . The rate of change can be changed continuously or discontinuously between 0 and 100%. Furthermore, it is good also as changing it using LUT which memorize | stored the experience value previously. When the color designation is other than the three colors B, G, and R, a combination thereof is used. For this purpose, the luminance is changed simultaneously for a plurality of color image data.
[0025]
The selectors 333B, G, and R are composed of, for example, multiplexers, and synthesize and output image data, character data, and the like of each color using a selection signal. The selectors 333B, G, and R cut out part of the image data whose luminance level has been changed within the specified area, cut out the remaining image data outside the area, and synthesizes both the cut out image data. As a result, a translucent back is generated in the region (function as the first print unit), and characters are combined with the generated translucent back and sent to the image data output control circuit 337 (second). Function as a print unit).
[0026]
The image data output control circuit 337 supplies a predetermined level of driving voltage to the exposure element corresponding to each dot for each of the B, G, and R image data sent from the selectors 333B, G, and R, respectively, and performs color filter control. The circuit 336 drives the drive motor 331a of FIG. 2 to rotate the color filter 311c, and when the light from the white light source 311b is B color image data, the B color region, and when the G color image data is G color region, And R color image data are transmitted through the R color region and separated into each color light, and the shutter array 311a is identical in the width direction of the photographic paper P by each color light transmitted through the color filter 311c. The line positions are sequentially exposed.
[0027]
The controller 334 operates each circuit in accordance with a command from the CPU 335. The CPU 335 includes a semi-transparent back necessity determination unit 335a that determines whether or not a semi-transparent back is necessary based on input data from the input unit 70. ing. That is, the input unit 70 performs the above-described color designation, area designation, luminance level change rate designation, character data input, and other various operations by the user via the system controller 60, the exposure control unit 34, and the controller 334. The output unit 80 displays various information during each operation. For example, the display unit 80 is controlled via the controller 334, the exposure control unit 34, and the system controller 60 based on the command information from the semi-transparent back necessity determination unit 335a of the CPU 335, and the necessity of the semi-transparent back process on the screen. When Y / N is input at the input unit 70, the input data is transmitted to the semi-transparent back necessity determination unit 335a of the CPU 335 via the system controller 60, the exposure control unit 34, and the controller 334.
[0028]
Returning to FIG. 1 again, the development processing unit 40 includes a liquid tank 41 filled with a developer, and the photographic paper P exposed by the exposure head unit 31 is located downstream of the liquid tank 41. The latent image formed by the exposure of the photographic paper P is made visible by being conveyed by the provided unillustrated exposed photographic paper conveyance unit and being immersed in the developer in the liquid tank 41.
[0029]
The cutting unit 50 includes a cutter 51 that cuts the photographic paper P that has been developed by the development processing unit 40 and then dried in the width direction, and has been developed (not shown) disposed on the upstream side of the cutter 51. The long photographic paper P conveyed to the cutting unit 50 by the photographic paper conveyance unit is divided into predetermined units.
[0030]
The cutter 51 includes a wedge-shaped upper cutting blade 511 and a lower cutting blade 512 disposed above and below the photographic paper P. The upper cutting blade 511 and the lower cutting blade 512 are moved to a position away from the surface of the photographic paper P when the photographic paper P is not at the cutting position, and are cut upward when the photographic paper P reaches the cutting position. The blade 511 and the lower cutting blade 512 are moved in the width direction by moving to the photographic paper P surface side and sandwiching the photographic paper P. The cutter 51 includes a drive motor 513 that drives the upper cutting blade 511 and the lower cutting blade 512 up and down, and a cutter control unit 514 that controls driving of the drive motor 513.
[0031]
The system controller 60 includes an unillustrated CPU and a ROM that stores a control program. The system controller 60 gives commands to each control unit based on the control program stored in the ROM to control the operation of each control unit and each circuit. Centralized control.
[0032]
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which a translucent back is formed on the photographic paper. In FIG. 4, the translucent back T is set at the lower right portion of the photographic paper P and, for example, “H12.5.8” which is the shooting date is written therein. The size, direction, and setting position of the translucent back T may be set in advance, but can be arbitrarily designated from the input unit 70 as described above.
[0033]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of this embodiment. The device operates as follows. First, the scanner 10 captures image data from the film F (step S1), and subsequently captures character data (step S2). Among these, the image data is stored in the image data storage unit 21 of the image information capturing unit 20, and the character data is stored in the character data storage unit 331 d of the superimpose circuit 331 via the controller 334. Next, based on the input data from the input unit 70, the semi-transparent back necessity determination unit 335a of the CPU 335 determines whether or not the semi-transparent back process is performed (step S3). When it is determined that a semi-transparent back is required, each information is read from each of the storage units 331a to 331c, thereby specifying an area (step S4), specifying a color (step S5), and luminance. A level change rate is designated (step S6). When each designation is completed, the luminance level of the image data for which the color designation is made among the image data of each color transferred from the image data storage unit 21 to the line buffers 22, 23, 24 is changed to the luminance level change table 332B, G and R are changed by the change rate (for example, 50%) of the designated luminance level (step S7). Thereafter, the image data whose luminance level has been changed by the selectors 333B, G, R is cut out within the designated area, and the remaining image data whose luminance level has not been changed is outside the designated area. It is cut out (step S8). The two pieces of image data cut out by the selectors 333B, G, and R are combined (step S9), and the character data is further combined (step S10). Then, the photographic paper is exposed with each image data output from the image data output control circuit 337 (step S11). On the other hand, when the semi-transparent back necessity determination unit 335a of the CPU 335 determines that the semi-transparent back is unnecessary in step S3, steps S4 to S10 are skipped and the semi-transparent back process is not performed. The photographic paper is exposed with the image data.
[0034]
As described above, when a character is overlaid on a partial area of an image and printed, an input is made to change the density level at the time of printing of each pixel constituting the image in a direction to give a difference from the character. The level after the change is associated with the level of the pixel data to be output and stored in the brightness level change table 332B, G, R so as to be output, and only the pixel data included in the partial area of the image is the brightness level. A level change is performed by the superimpose circuit 331 via the change table 332B, G, R, and each pixel data processed by the superimpose circuit 331 is received and a print output is performed by the selector 333B, G, R. In response to the pixel data constituting the character, print output is performed by the selectors 333B, G, and R, so that the back data Conversion and reverse conversion as in the above-described conventional example are not required at the time of generation, and the apparatus configuration is simplified, so that the cost can be reduced and the processing time of the image can be shortened, so that the performance of the photo processing apparatus can be improved. .
[0035]
In the above embodiment, the luminance level change tables 332B, G, and R, which are table memories, such as SRAM, are used as the level changing means, but DRAM may be used. In the above embodiment, the multiplexers are used as the selectors 333B, G, and R. However, other switch circuits may be used. In the above-described embodiment, a PLZT element is used as the exposure head unit 31, but a laser light source may be used.
[0036]
In the above embodiment, the image data is read from the image data storage unit 21 of the image information fetching unit 20 and exposed to the photographic paper P by the exposure unit 30, but the image data is directly received from an external device such as a personal computer. The photographic paper P may be exposed based on the captured image data.
[0037]
In the above-described embodiment, the image information capturing unit 20 and the exposure unit 30 as the image processing apparatus are applied to the photographic processing apparatus. However, the present invention can also be applied to a printer or other image forming apparatus.
[0038]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the first aspect of the present invention, conversion and reverse conversion as in the above-described conventional example are not required when generating a translucent back, and the apparatus configuration can be simplified and the cost can be reduced. In addition, the image processing time can be shortened to improve the performance of the apparatus.
[0039]
Further, according to the first aspect of the invention, the luminance level can be arbitrarily set, which is convenient.
[0040]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to further simplify the apparatus configuration and further reduce the cost, and further reduce the image processing time and further increase the performance of the apparatus.
[0041]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to further simplify the device configuration and further reduce the cost, and further reduce the image processing time and further improve the performance of the device.
[0042]
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the character data can be written on the translucent back.
[0043]
According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the shooting date can be written on the translucent back.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a photographic processing apparatus to which an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a view showing a detailed configuration of an exposure head unit.
FIG. 3 is a view showing a detailed configuration of an exposure head controller.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a result of exposure on photographic paper.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
20 Image information capture unit 21 Image data storage unit 22, 23, 24 Line buffer 30 Exposure unit 31 Exposure head unit 32 Printing paper transport unit 33 Exposure head control unit 34 Exposure control unit 331 Superimpose circuit (image processing means)
331a Color designation information storage unit 331b Area designation information storage unit 331c Luminance level change rate information storage unit 331d Character data storage units 332, 332B, G, R Luminance level change table (level change means, table memory)
333, 333B, G, R selector (first and second print units)
334 Controller 335 CPU
336 Color filter control circuit 337 Image data output control circuit 40 Development processing unit 50 Cut unit 60 System controller 70 Input unit 80 Display unit

Claims (5)

An image processing apparatus for printing a second image by superimposing a second image on a partial area of the first image, which is a color image composed of a plurality of colors, wherein the luminance level at the time of printing of each pixel constituting the first image is set. Level changing means for storing the changed level in association with the level of the input pixel data so as to enable output in order to change at a predetermined change rate in a direction in which a difference from the second image is given; An image processing unit that changes the level of only pixel data included in the partial area of one image via the level changing unit, and each pixel data processed by the image processing unit is received and printed out. A first print unit; and a second print unit that receives and prints pixel data constituting the second image, and
The image processing means includes a color designation information storage unit that stores color designation information that designates image data of a color that changes a luminance level among the R, G, and B image data of the first image; An area designation information storage unit for storing area designation information for designating a partial area; and a change rate designation information storage unit for storing change rate designation information for designating the change rate of the luminance level.
The level changing means changes the luminance level of the specified color image data in the partial area at the change rate based on the color specification information, the region specification information, and the change rate specification information. A featured image processing apparatus. Level changing means image processing apparatus according to claim 1 Symbol mounting, characterized in that a table memory. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the table memory is an SRAM. The second image is an image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that an image consisting of character data. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the character data is a shooting date.

Images